A blind professor works at the information counter: ‘My workplace is’ just to ask you something »
Blind Bojan Berttek (42), He graduated by musicologist and professor of music history, at one point he worked at five schools at the same time, in five different cities in five counties and traveled 700-800 kilometers a week. Jelena Pantic (32), graduated from high school for people with disabilities at the Dubrava Education Center. She completed her graduate study at the Faculty of Philosophy in Zagreb, the direction of sociology and ethnology and has the title of Master of Sociology and Ethnology and Cultural Anthropology.
For a year, she was professionally trained at the City Administration of the City of Zagreb, and then she had been looking for a job for three years.
Bojan worked in education for 14 years trying to put together a full hourly rate, and Jelena applied for all possible tenders. And then they applied for the MUP tenders in which people with disabilities invited to participate equally in the employment competition. Both have passed the competition and are employed by administrative affairs at the Zagreb Police Department.
Bojan is working on a counter for information on Vukovar Street 70 in Zagreb where citizens are coming to report a residence and take out an identity card or passport while Jelena is working at the Administrative Affairs Service and the Application Department in Branimir Street.
Kind to everyone
– I’ve been here since July 2023, almost two years, and I can say that I did fine. I am extremely pleased, we work nicely in the team from the beginning, one extremely pleasant atmosphere. When there is a talk about some nervousness on the counter, I think I am a blind person here in a certain advantage because if a client who is nervous comes, and you see him and see his nervous expression face, it also affects you bad. I’m not interested in this because I don’t see the party and it is perfectly irrelevant to me how she is in the mood. I’m kind to everyone, the party he asks me is obliged to answer kindly, it’s my job – Bojan tells us.
Zagreb: Talking to two employees of the Zagreb Police Department who are persons with disabilities |
Points out that, Although he has very few negative experiences, even if he hears nervousness in the party’s voice, his kind approach usually calms them down. A normal person who thinks normally, he explains, will not respond roughly to someone who is kind to her.
– I am the first person that the parties see when they come to the information counter and I think the key thing is at the beginning to make one nice impression, prepare people for details about making documents. This also saves my colleagues a lot of time, because my workplace, literally, so layered, is, « just to ask you, » he says with a smile.
When he came to Vukovar, the first employed person with disabilities was there. Experienced colleagues were with him, helping him what needed. He absorbed all the information on the walk to help the parties faster and easier to cope with and obtain the documents they needed.
– And now the parties sometimes find me with some question I don’t know the answer to. Then I refer them to my colleagues and ask if they have time, when they end up giving me feedback that I know how to react in this situation in the future. But that’s rare – Bojan admits.
Sometimes he still needs help with things that are « inconvenient », like wearing a food tray at a restaurant during a gable, but whatever he can try to do alone.
‘The support of a colleague’ is essential ‘
How important a good working atmosphere at work is and the support of a colleague also emphasizes Jelena.
“I’m very much It is important that I have good collaboration at work because then it is easier to work, I feel more comfortable. I am well received, my colleagues are good and approachable, if I need something to help are always there for me – says Jelena, who has been working on administrative jobs for two years.
He reports residences, issues certificates of residence, sends calls to the parties … He communicates more with citizens via email or over the phone and has never had unpleasant experiences.
– I have applied for a lot of competitions, it is difficult for everyone to find a job, especially people with disabilities. People with disabilities should be equal and equally included as other members of society, the only thing they have certain difficulties, but it can always be overcome. The MUP invites people with disabilities to apply for the competition. It can be said that they are an example of good practice. My message to employers would be that people with disabilities are more involved in business and social life. In doing so, they help us to develop personally – Jelena thinks.
Both work morning shifts from 7 to 15 or 8 to 4pm and they have enough from a day to do what makes them satisfaction in their spare time.
They like to read, go to concerts …
Bojan is married. He and his wife have a pet, a cat, called Dodo and who eagerly awaits them when they return home from work. He loves to read exceptionally, says that he wakes up with the book and goes to sleep. When the weather is nice and when she is able, she loves to take a walk, listen to good music …
Loves and travel, He jokingly says that if he could see, he would probably be a driver.
Jelena also loves to read, watch series, movies, go to concerts …
– I was at the concert of Nena Belan on Women’s Day. He was great, four hours weren’t too much. I was also on a blue orchestra, and at different concerts. I will see if I will go to the White button, I have not decided yet – Jelena reveals to us.
Due to his persistence and incredible desire to work, moving weekly 500 kilometers to teach in three distant schools Bojan in 2014 was the pride of Croatia. Only one tells everyone: ‘Never give up on your dreams’.
